Brunei, M'sia call for joint efforts

Strengthening quality of primary healthcare

BRUNEI and Malaysia underscored the importance of further strengthening the quality of primary healthcare as one of the key framework of health system in both countries.

During his remarks at the Sixth Bilateral Ministers of Health Meeting between Brunei and Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof said that both countries share the same approach in placing highest political will and commitment on the importance of primary healthcare.

"I believe, as we continue to advance in providing secondary and tertiary level of care encompassing cure, treatment and rehabilitation, we must not lose sight of the immense values and principles of primary healthcare and its contribution not only to the community but also far reaching to the universal care and accessibility to our people including in remote areas in adopting universal health coverage in our health system," he said, adding that remarkable progress have been made to the attendance of the United Nation Millennium Development Goals for health such as in the reduction of child and maternal mortality and the improvement of people's health outcomes.

"Hence, I wish to propose for our officials to explore further cooperation and exchange of best practices based on evidence on further strengthening and improving the quality of primary healthcare," said YB Pehin Dato Hj Adanan.

Both countries signed Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation in 2006, which covers a wide range of collaborative healthcare activities.

Currently, 53 Malaysian officers are working in various areas of medical and health services in the Sultanate.

The minister also said that Brunei is investing and intensifying on more cost-effective interventions such as health screening, strengthening health promotion and prevention activities. In addition, secondary and tertiary level of care encompassing cure, treatment and rehabilitation also continues in a coherent manner to provide a holistic approach.

In response to the remarks, Malaysia's Health Minister Yang Berhormat Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai, who led his country's delegation during the meeting, called for government senior officials of both ministries to further strengthen cooperation in the primary healthcare as Malaysia has introduced more preventive measures.

He lauded Brunei for its tobacco control efforts through various measures, such as the issuance of no retail tobacco license to vendors within one kilometre vicinity of a school.

In Malaysia, he said, to protect the public from exposure to tobacco smoke, have introduced the minimum price of cigarettes, extended non-smoking areas, and provided the public with smoking cessation services at health clinics. The Brunei Times